Sharpening device.



H. C. STRACK.

SHARPENING DEVICE.

APPucATloN man 11m11.191s

Lgw Patented June 12, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

invention 5S Attorngya.

Witnessesz' H. C. STRACK.

SHARPENING DEViCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH. 1916.

1.92299668, Patented June12, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 wmf/x5 f5 1671 5 26/ Witnesses I. l/I f? w inventan# im g M MQW/CS l Attorn y:

'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

HENRY C. STBACK, 0F OWlEGrO, NEW YORK.

snaarnmue DEVICE. l

Specification. of Letters Patent.

ratenteu aan@ is, ieri.

Application mea Mayu, isis. serial No, 96,757.

ful Improvement in Sharpening Devices, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sharpening devices, and `more particularly to an apparatus for honing and strop ing safety razor blades, and has for its object to produce a device which may be used either for honing or stropping and which may be readily changed from one to the other.

A further object is to produce a device in which the sides of the edge of the blade will be automaticallypresented to stropping orV honing surface at the proper angle, and held in such relationship by a uniform pressure.

A further object is to provide means for securely holding the blade in proper position relatively to the abrading or setting surface.

A further object is to provide means whereby the abrading and edge-setting, surfaces may be readily renewed.

A still further object is to provide for the ready insertion or removal of the blade.

These and further objects kwill more fully appear in the following specification and accompanying drawings, considered \t0 gether or separately.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; A

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the blade-retaining means;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the blade-retaining means;

Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic views showing the positions of the parts during the forward movement;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view showing a heavy backed blade in position;

Fig. 12-is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner of attachment of the setting and abrading surfaces;

provided with 'with wings 10, 10 extending upward at right Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a modificatlon;

Fig.-` 14 is a section on the Fig. 13;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the blade carrier opened; -and. Fig. 16 is a rear elevation of the form of device shown in Figs. 13, 14, and 15.

line 14-14 of In the embodiment of the invention illus` trated in Figs. 1 to 12 I have shown a device for honing and stropping single edge safety razor blades, and in Figs. 13 to 16 a device for honing and stropping double edge ilades of the Gillette 'and Durham duplex yPe- In the drawings 1 designates a body of box-like form having its front end 2 concaved to form a seat for the thumb and its rear end 3 'concaved'for engagement by the fingers of the operator. The body is of a sizeto conveniently hand with the thumb resting in the concavity of the front wall and the ngers engaging the A`concave rear wall. The sides 4 and 5 of the body 1 are provided with standards 6, extending -above the sides of the box. Journaled in the side walls 4 and 5, and in line with the center of the standards, is a shaft 7 to which is rigidly secured a frame comprising side arms 8, 8, and a table 9. The table extends across the arms 8 and is a slightly convex -top and angles thereto.

An operating shaft 11 is journaled in the sides 4 and 5 near the front 2 of the body, and carries at one end an operating crank 12, and at the other end a crank 13. A pawl and ratchet 14 coperate with the shaft 11 to prevent backward movement of the same. The pawl and ratchet may, however, be dispensed with if desired.

A lever 15 is pivoted to the crank 13, and a lever 16 carried by the shaft 7 is pivoted at its extremity to the end of the lever 15, which latter is provided with a double cam faced extension 17 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A plate 18, having an enlargement 19 at each end, is provided with trunnions 20, by means of which it is pivoted in the upper ends of the standards 6. The trunnion at one end is provided with a depending tongue 21, which is arranged in the path of the extension 17 when the operating crank is rotated. The crank 13 and the levers 15 and it in the palm of the 16 are so proportioned and arranged that a complete rotation of the shaft 11 will rock the shaft 7 and the table 9 through an arc of approximately 90 degrees.

A leaf 22 is pivoted to the enlargements 19 of the plate 18, and is provided at each end with an. upwardly extending finger 23, each of which is located opposite a similar finger 21 on an enlargement of the plate 18. A spring 25 is positioned between each pair of lingers and tends to normally hold the leaf 22 in contact with the plate 18. One of the fingers 23 is rovided with an extension which carries a nger piece 26. One of the enlargements 19 is provided with an arm 27, and a spring 28, which is anchored to the side 4 vertically below the center of the enlargen'lent, is attached to the free end of the arm. This spring will normally hold the plate 18, leaf 22 and arm 27, in their vertical positions and permit them to be swung to either side thereof.

The center of the plate 18 is provided with a bearing 29 carrying a shaft to which is pivoted a wing 30, which has pivoted thereon a spring latch 31. One end of the latch has a tooth for engagement with one of a series of notches 32 in the bearing 29.

The honing member 33 and stropping member 34 are secured to the surface of a bed piece 35, which rests upon the table 9 and is embraced by the wings 10. The bed piece is of elliptical cross-section and of a length somewhat greater than the longest safety razor blade. It is preferably made hollow for the sake of lightness, and its surface is foraminous. The ends of the bed piece are recessed, as at 36, and the wings 1() engage these recesses. The wings do not make close contact with the bottoms of the recesses. This will permit the bed piece to have a rocking movement on the convex surface of the table 9.

The honing and stropping members are preferably secured to the surface of the bed piece by means of cement 37 which will, when the members are forced into position, be forced through the foraminations in the bed piece and, on hardening, securely retain the members in position.

The stropping member is a piece of suitable leather, and the honing member may be a piece of suitable stone or slate cut to proper size, but is preferably of leather, canvas or the like, coated or impregnated with a suitable abrading material, of which crocus Martis is an example.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 13 to 16 I have shown a device particularly adapted for use upon blades of wafer or ribbon type, and having slots or perforations therein. In these` figures the device, except for the blade holding mechanism, is identlcal with that shown in Figs. 1 to 12.

In Figs. 13 to 16 a plate 18", similar to the plate 18, is employed, but is disposed nearerthe front of the device than is the plate 18. The plate 18 has enlargements 19, trunnions 20an arm 2 7 to which is attached a spring 28. The plate 18u is made somewhat thicker than the plate 18, and is provided with a vertical slot 40, extending therethrough and having a length suflicient to accommodate the longest safety razor blade. The plate 18n is provided with a series of perforations 39. A leaf 22n is pivoted to the enlargements 19 and disposed at the back of the plate 18a. The leaf is provided with a series of studs or projections 41. The leaf is, by means of a spring 25, normally held in engagement with the back of the` plate 18n with the studs projecting into the perforations. The ends of the studs are bcveled or conical.

he operation of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 12 is as follows:

.The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 2, the latch 31 is depressed unlocking the Wing 30, which is swung back as shown in dotted lines. The device is held in the left-hand with the thumb engaging the wall 2, and the fingers engaging the rear 3. The finger piece 26 may now be engaged by the index finger of the left-hand, and moved backward. This will swing the plate 18 and leaf 22 on the trunnions 19 toward the front until the tongue 21 engages a stop 38 on the standard 6. This will arrest the movement of the plate 18 and the continued depression of the linger piece will swing the leaf relatively to the plate and open the gap between them. A razor blade may now be inserted in the gap with its edge protruding the proper distance below the edges of the plate and leaf. The wing 30 will now be swung into position engaging the back of the blade and locked by the engagement of the latch with a notch in the bearing 29. 0n the removal of the finger from the piece 26 the spring 28 will move the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. The bed 32 having been placed in position on the table 9 with the surface 24 upward, the device will be in position for honing.

The handle 12 being rotated in a. clockwise direction will, through the intermediary of the crank 13, and levers 15 and 16, oscillate the table 9 and with it the bed 35. The stropping surface will engage one side of the blade, asin Fig. 7, and the blade will, by the tension of the spring 28, remain in contact with the strop until the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 8, the blade and its carrier being swung by the engagement of the strop with the blade. When the parts reach the position shown iny Fig.'` 8 the extension 17 will overtake the tongue 21 and move the blade out of contact with the strop. The continued movement of the message the strop is moving in the direction away from the edge of the blade when the latter is raised, and therefore there is no danger of the edge of the blade being rounded.

The continued movement of the crank 12 will, on account of the difference in length of the levers 13 and 16, now-swing the strop in a counter-clock-wise direction and it will engage the other side of the blade in the manner above described. When the center of the strop reaches the edge of the blade the back of the extension 17 will engage the back of the tongue 21 and the blade will be raised from contact with the strop as before.

lThe action of the springs 25 on the blade will prevent its being drawn from the carrier by the friction of the strop or hone, and the wing 30 will prevent its being thrown outward by centrifugal force.

For use with a double-edge blade the wing 30 may be dispensed with, and the frictional engagement of the plate 18 and leaf be depended on to secure the blade 1n position.

When it isJ desired to remove the blade from the carrier or to insert one therein the table 9 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 10, the finger piece 26 is depressed, swinging the carrier forward until it is in a horizontal position, and the tongue 21 engages thestrop 38. The continued movement of the finger piece will compress the spring 25 and release the leaf 22 from engagement with the blade, which may then be withdrawn from between the leaf and the plate 18 and a new blade substituted. The horizontal position of the carrier will facilitate access tothe blade and carrier, and the distance to which the edge of the blade protrudes from the holder may be accurately determined.

When it is desired to use the hone the bed piece is reversed and the operation above described is continued.

The pawl and ratchet 14 will prevent backward movement of the parts and prevent cutting the strop or injuring the blade by the hone.

The stropping and honing surfaces being Secured to the bed piece by means of glue or cement may easily be replaced when de- Sired.

The convex table 9 will allow sucient play of the bed piece to permit it to accommodate itself to the edge of the blade should the latter be unevenly placed in the carrier.

The operation of the form of device shown in Figs. 13 to 16 is precisely. the

same as that above described, except that as a double edge blade is acted on the wing 30 is dispensed with. The blade is lnserted 1n the slot and the spring 25l will retain the studs 41 in engagement with the perforations or slot in the blade which will therefore be secured against movement in any direction. v

When it is desired to remove the blade or place a new one in position, the carrier is rotated by the finger piece 26a until it assumes a horizontal position and the finger 23a contacts with a stop 4:2, which will arrest the movement of the leaf 22LL and the continued movement of the plate 18a will cause the withdrawal of the projections, and the slot .40 will be open.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, have described the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but l desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described, having a support for a razor blade, an oscillatory frame, a bed piece carried by the frame, there being a stropping surface on one side of the bed piece and a honing surface on the opposite side of the bed piece, means for automatically alining the surface of the bed piece with the edge of the blade, and means for oscillating the frame.

2. A device of the character described, having a support for a razor blade, an oscillatory frame, a bed piece carried by the frame, there being a stropping surface on one side of the bed piece and a honing surface on the opposite side of the bed piece, a convex table on the frame for automatically alining the surface of the bed iece with the edge of the blade, and means or oscillating the frame.

3. A device of the character described, having a body, a support fora razor blade pivoted in the body, a shaft, a frame carried on the shaft, said frame carrying a sharpening surface, an operating spindle, and connections between the spindle and shaft whereby the rotation lof the spindle will oscillate the shaft and with it the sharpening surface to oscillate the blade support.

4. A device of the character described, having a body, a support for a razor blade pivoted in the body, a shaft, a frame carried on the shaft, said frame carrying a sharpening surface, an operating spindle, -connections between the spindle and shaft whereby rotation of the spindle will oscillate the shaft and with it the sharpening surface to kIL10 oscillate the blade support, and independent means operable by the rotation of the splndle for rocking the blade support.

5. A device of the character dcscribed, having a body, a support for a razor blade pivoted to the body, a spring for securmg a blade in position in the support, a frame carricd on the shaft, said frame carrying a sharpening surface, an operatmg splndle, connections between the spindle and shaft whereby rotation of the spindle will osclllate the frame and engage the sharpening surface with a blade carried in the support, the engagement of the sharpening surface with the blade acting to oscillate the blade support, and a spring for holding the blade in engagement with the surface.

6. A device of the character described, having a body, a support for a razor blade pivoted to the body, a frame carried on the shaft, said frame carrying a sharpening surface, an operating spindle, connections between the spindle and shaft whereby rotation of the spindle will oscillate the frame and engage the sharpening surface with a blade carried in the support, the engagement of the sharpening surface with the blade acting to oscillate the blade support, a spring for holding the blade in engagement with the surface, and means for oscillating the support to move the blade away from the sharpening surface.

7. A device of the y character described, having a body,a support for a razor blade pivoted in the body, a shaft carried in the body, a frame projecting from the shaft, said frame carrylng a sharpening surface at its free end, an operating spindle, connections between the spindle and shaft whereby the rotation of the spindle in one direction will oscillate the sharpening surface, the engagement of the sharpening surface with a blade carried in the support acting to rock the support in the direction of travel of the sharpening surface, a spring for yieldingly engaging the blade with the sharpening surface, and means operable by the rotation of the spindle for raising the blade from engagement with the sharpening surface before its limit of travel is reached.

8. A device of the character described, having a body, said body having concaved opposlte walls, a pivoted support for a razor blade in the body, a shaft journaled in the body, an operating spindle, a crank on the spindle, a lever on the crank, a lever on the shaft, connections between the levers Whereby the rotation of the spindle will oscillate the shaft, a frame carried by one end on the shaft and having a sharpening surface carried in the free end of the frame and engaging and oscillating the blade on the oscillating of the shaft, and means engaging the back of the blade for securing the same in the support, and means for releasing the blade from the support.

9. A device of the character described, having a body, a frame pivoted in the body, a table on the frame, and arms on the table, in combination with a bed piece having notches therein and carrying an abrading surface, said bed piece resting on the table and said arms engaging the notches.

10. A device of the character described, having a body, a frame pivoted in the body, a convex table on the frame, and arms on the table, in combination with a bed piece having notches therein and carrying an abrading surface, said bed piece resting on the table and said arms engaging the notches.

11. A device of the character described, having a body, a frame pivoted in the body, a table on the frame, and arms on the table, in combination with a bed piece having notches therein, said bed piece resting on the table and said arms engaging the notches, said bed piece having a stropping surface and a honing surface thereon.

This specification signed and witnessed this fourth day of May, 1916.

HENRY C. STRACK. Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. ELLIS, HARRm'r E. DUNHAM. 

